Heat pump system with auxiliary heat exchanger

摘要

Disclosed are embodiments of heat pump systems and methods for operating such systems in the heating mode while a heat pump operating parameter reaches or is equal to a predetermined operating value at which it is not advisable to use conventional heat pump systems for heating an enclosed structure. In addition to ancillary components, the heat pump systems includes indoor, outdoor and auxiliary heat exchangers, reversing and flow diverting valves, compressors, refrigerant superheat controllers, and auxiliary energy sources. During the heating mode of operation, while the heat pump operating parameter reaches or is equal to the predetermined operating value, the flow of liquid refrigerant through the outdoor heat exchangers is inhibited and is diverted to flow through the auxiliary heat exchangers. Thermal energy from the auxiliary energy source is used for evaporating the liquid refrigerant flowing through the auxiliary heat exchangers.

主权项

1. A method of operating a heat pump system in a heating mode of operation, the heat pump system comprising:
one or more indoor heat exchangers; one or more compressors; one or more refrigerant superheat controllers; one or more reversing valves; one or more outdoor heat exchangers, each paired with an auxiliary heat exchanger that is located outdoors so as to be exposed to an outdoor environment, each auxiliary heat exchanger located adjacent a corresponding one of said one or more outdoor heat exchangers; one or more auxiliary energy sources, the one or more auxiliary energy sources comprising a water heater including a water loop for supplying heated water along a water flow path to at least one of the one or more auxiliary heat exchangers; and first and second flow diverting valves, or four flow valves, operable to selectively define a refrigerant flow path through either a corresponding outdoor heat exchanger or a corresponding auxiliary heat exchanger, such that when the refrigerant flow path is defined through the corresponding outdoor heat exchanger the corresponding auxiliary heat exchanger is isolated, and when the refrigerant flow path is defined through the corresponding auxiliary heat exchanger the corresponding outdoor heat exchanger is isolated, the method comprising:
determining a heat pump operating parameter;once the heat pump operating parameter has reached a predetermined operating value and an outdoor temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or less:
inhibiting a flow of refrigerant to each outdoor heat exchanger that is configured for the heating mode of operation;enabling said flow of refrigerant to pass through each corresponding paired auxiliary heat exchanger; andactivating the one or more auxiliary energy sources when said flow of refrigerant through any one or more auxiliary heat exchangers is enabled, thereby exchanging thermal energy between the activated auxiliary energy source(s) and refrigerant flowing through one or more auxiliary heat exchangers, the method comprising regulating the activated auxiliary energy source(s) so as to substantially maintain a desired temperature for water supplied by the water heater, for one or more auxiliary heat exchangers, and/or for refrigerant flowing through one or more auxiliary heat exchangers.